Gundy, Robinson keep OSU on steady course

In a season filled with strange-but-true stories in the Big 12, Oklahoma State doesn’t take a back seat to anybody.

Here’s one tale to ponder:

OSU has been without explosive running back Kendall Hunter and All-American wide receiver Dez Bryant since mid-September, and yet the Cowboys have won five in a row leading into Saturday’s showdown in Stillwater, Okla., against the Texas Longhorns.

Say, what?

As mentioned, maybe some of the explanation has to do with a crazy karma in the Big 12 this season.

How else do you explain Kansas State losing by 52 points at Texas Tech and then defeating Texas A&M by 48 seven days later?

Also, how does A&M rebound from its humiliation at Kansas State and, in one week’s time, figure out a way to lay a 22-point whipping on Tech in Lubbock?

Realistically, though, in Oklahoma State’s case, the biggest reason for its continued high level of play is depth.

The Cowboys are loaded, two and three deep at the skill positions.

The other part of it is leadership. Players apparently can feel it in the more laid-back style of head coach Mike Gundy, and they can see it in the lights-out play of senior quarterback Zac Robinson.

“Coach Gundy’s been a lot more relaxed this year, kind of loose, keeping it fun for everybody,” Robinson said. “That’s one of the big reasons why we’ve been able to play well the past few weeks.”

Also, the Cowboys (13th in the AP poll, 14th in the BCS) have found a good rhythm with Robinson running the show on offense.

Ever since a 45-35 loss to Houston on Sept. 12, Robinson has led the team to steady, and sometimes dominating, performances in victories over Rice, Grambling, Texas A&M, Missouri and Baylor.

True, the competition has not been great. But Robinson has remained sharp and has hit 67.8 percent of his passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns, against only one interception, in three conference victories.

Gundy said that Robinson, with 12 TD passes and three interceptions this season, has played to his strengths and has attacked his opponents’ weaknesses with precision.

“I think he’s done a pretty good job with that the past few weeks,” Gundy said.

Robinson has also done it without Hunter, who is out with an ankle injury, and Bryant, who has been ruled ineligible for lying to the NCAA about his association with former San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys star Deion Sanders.

Bryant will remain suspended for the remainder of the season, the NCAA ruled on Tuesday.

Robinson has shrugged off the loss of the two stars and has continued to play as one of the top quarterbacks in the conference.

As good as Robinson has been since he’s been starting at OSU, the Longhorns (third in the AP and the BCS) have posted a 2-0 record against him.

Two years ago, UT rallied for 24 points in the fourth quarter to post a 38-35 victory in Stillwater.

Last year, UT held off OSU 28-24 in Austin.

“For me, personally, and I know the team, we were crushed after that loss (at UT),” Robinson said. “That was a very tough loss for us. We went in and competed hard until the end and came (up) just short.”

And so, the question looms, whether he can only turn that psychology around and use it to his advantage this weekend.

Robinson agreed that because last year’s game was so close, it does give him some confidence that OSU can win this week.

“I’ve always felt good playing against Texas,” said Robinson, who threw for 420 yards against UT in Stillwater two years ago. “I’ve always personally liked playing in big games. I think that’s the reason you play college football.”

He also plays to have fun.

“We’ve kind of just been playing back-yard ball the last few weeks,” Robinson said. “I think our guys have really responded to that. Hopefully we can just continue to do that in the big game.”